Trump: ‘I did not support the war in Iraq’

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sparred with debate moderator Lester Holt during Monday night’s presidential debate over his support for the Iraq War.

After Holt started a question asking Trump about his support for the war, Trump interrupted, saying, “I did not support the war in Iraq.”

{mosads}”That is a mainstream media nonsense put out by her,” Trump continued, referring to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

When Holt said that “the record shows otherwise,” Trump contended that the record showed he did not, in fact, support the war.

Trump outlined the interviews he did prior to the Iraq War with Howard Stern, Neil Cavuto and Sean Hannity.

“Everybody refuses to call Sean Hannity. I had numerous conversations with Sean Hannity at Fox,” Trump said.

“He and I used to have arguments about the war,” Trump said. “I said it’s a terrible, stupid thing. It’s going to destabilize the Middle East, and that’s exactly what it’s done.”

He then referenced a magazine article published in 2004 in which he opposed the war.

The article, published in Esquire in August 2004 after the war started, has often been cited by Trump as proof of his opposition to the war from its start.

Politifact has rated Trump’s claim that he opposed the war “False.”

In the interview with Stern in September 2002, Trump said, “Yeah, I guess so,” when asked if he supported the looming war.

In the Cavuto interview in January 2003, Trump was asked whether President George W. Bush should be more focused on Iraq or the economy.

On Iraq, Trump’s response was: “Well, he has either got to do something or not do something, perhaps, because perhaps we shouldn’t be doing it yet and perhaps we should be waiting for the United Nations, you know? He’s under a lot of pressure. I think he’s doing a very good job. But, of course, if you look at the polls, a lot of people are getting a little tired. I think the Iraq situation is a problem. And I think the economy is a much bigger problem as far as the president is concerned.”